I’ve to confess, I used to be actually nervous about Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 + 4. I performed the primary ‘1 + 2’ assortment again in 2021 and completely beloved it, however my early teenage years had been formed by the Birdman’s third and fourth console outings. So to say that rather a lot was using on Iron Galaxy’s remake can be an understatement, and early considerations relating to THPS4’s shift in construction undoubtedly rattled me.
Fortunately, I can wholeheartedly say that this newest nostalgic revisit to what I’d argue was the height of the Tony Hawk’s sequence is successful – albeit with just a few caveats.
So let’s begin with the pink elephant within the room. Professional Skater 4 has been drastically altered to suit extra in step with Professional Skater 3 (and THPS1 + 2, for that matter). So as an alternative of roaming about every degree at your personal tempo and triggering missions by talking with the native residents, you’re as an alternative racing towards the two-minute clock, with missions accomplished organically as you make your manner round.
It’s a bitter capsule to swallow for veterans hoping for a extra 1:1 remake of the unique, however I’ve to confess that it nonetheless works fairly properly as is. Sure, the degrees in THPS4 are a lot bigger than those who got here earlier than, and so duties like gathering the S-Okay-A-T-E letters may show harder with the ticking clock. However having the entry align extra intently with the third does make for a extra cohesive expertise; one I’m sure newcomers will respect.
Talking of cohesion, regardless of growth transferring from the now-defunct Vicarious Visions to Iron Galaxy, THPS3+4 feels immediately acquainted to those that performed the unique video games and the 2021 remake of 1 + 2. It performs precisely the way you’d need, with slick, responsive controls, outrageously over-the-top combos, and heaps of potential in terms of participant and board customisation.
You’ve received a very stable choice of skaters to select from, together with Hawk himself, Zion Wright, Chloe Covell, and extra. Unlockable characters embody Bam Margera and TMNT’s Michelangelo, whereas in the event you go for the Digital Deluxe Version, you too can play as DOOM Slayer and the Revenant, with further bonus music tracks included.
Every skater has varied benefits and downsides, however by gathering stat factors hidden round every degree, you possibly can enhance all the pieces from pace to lip steadiness. The excellent news is that in the event you swap skaters, you possibly can instantly apply all stat factors beforehand collected, so there’s no have to undergo the motions many times.
As for the degrees themselves, they’ve been completely splendidly recreated. Not like the primary two entries, 3 + 4 actually leans into the entire MTV / Jackass affect and contains some actually ridiculous missions that make use of the extra NPC characters situated all through every stage. So, you possibly can ‘Bury the Bully’ in Canada, ‘Cease the Pickpockets’ in Airport, and ‘Photobomb the Vacationers’ in Alcatraz. Some missions have been altered considerably, so don’t count on to see Ollie the Bum hallucinating pink elephants. They’re nonetheless round, however the context has been switched up a bit.
Along with the acquainted favourites, Iron Galaxy has additionally seen match to create just a few new tracks of its personal, and I’ll be sincere, they’re superior. Waterpark specifically is a real spotlight, with the myriad waterslides and empty swimming pools making for a correct skateboarding playground begging to be combo’d into oblivion. It provides me hope that Activision might quickly green-light a model new Tony Hawk’s sport, however I’m not going to carry my breath.
One factor I do wish to name out, nonetheless, is the music. And to be clear, the soundtrack right here is banging; actually good things. You’ve received Iron Maiden’s 2 Minutes to Midnight, Intercourse Pistols Holidays within the Solar, Mastodon’s Treasured Stones, and a lot extra. The issue, nonetheless, is that music is a robust supply of nostalgia, and the vast majority of the originals’ tunes have been not noted, with solely six tracks represented from THPS3, and 4 from THPS4.
I wish to reiterate that the soundtrack is actually slightly good, and finally many newcomers will uncover some life-long favourites right here, similar to I did again within the early 2000s. However why couldn’t Iron Galaxy enchantment to each crowds? I broke into a large silly grin when Bodyjar’s Not the Similar kicked in for the primary time, and I simply want that the gathering included just a few extra nostalgic hits.
Shifting onto multiplayer, you’ve received just a few choices to maintain you busy when you’re carried out with the single-player portion. One of many highlights is the brand new ‘HAWK’ mode, which sees you conceal H-A-W-Okay letters round ranges earlier than using round to find your opponent’s letters. It’s a cool little mode, and it’s good to see one thing that’s not simply ‘see who can rating essentially the most factors’.
That mentioned, whereas multiplayer works properly, truly discovering a match can take a short while. It’s early days, in a single sense, but when the sport’s struggling to seek out matches at launch, then I dread to assume what it may be like in a yr or two.
Along with the usual multiplayer, you’ve additionally received the Create-A-Park mode. Right here, you possibly can check out customized parks from a hefty choice, although it’s secure to say that a few of the early designs go away a bit to be desired. Heck, I can’t discuss, I wouldn’t be capable of do significantly better, however I’m undoubtedly trying ahead to seeing just a few creations that don’t simply depend on foolish gimmicks.
The precise creation instrument is fairly enjoyable and intuitive, with belongings chosen with the D-pad and positioned on the bottom with the analogue sticks. You may rotate items, zoom in, pan the digicam round – all types. It’s a neat little instrument in the event you’ve received a aptitude for park creation, however finally I can’t see myself utilizing it that a lot.
Lastly, taking a look at how the sport runs on Change 2, I’m largely very impressed. In handheld mode, there generally is a little little bit of aliasing, however by and enormous the sport is remarkably on par with the likes of the PS5 and Xbox Collection X|S, hitting what seems like a stable 60fps with some beautiful reflection expertise on show with puddles.
The lighting appears to be like nice in ranges like Tokyo and Foundry, and pop-in is fortunately saved at a minimal. A number of the NPC characters can look a bit of goofy at instances, positive, but when something, this felt like a callback to the unique video games. That’s my excuse at the very least – take care of it.
Lastly, you possibly can view a few of the surroundings with the sport’s picture mode, which works rather well and provides in quite a few cool little filters and results for good measure.
Conclusion
Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 + 4 is one other welcome return to the franchise’s glory days, presenting the third and fourth entries with revamped visuals throughout the board whereas retaining the identical slick gameplay. Some of us may be unable to recover from the structural adjustments to Professional Skater 4, and I’ve to confess to being a bit of disenchanted on the lack of basic music tracks, however total, the positives completely outweigh the negatives.
Should you’re seeking to inject a hearty dose of nostalgia into your life, otherwise you merely wish to see what the Tony Hawk sequence was like at its absolute peak, then this could show a tremendous addition to your Change 2 library.
